W0lfgang

Chill.

Easiest 1 > 2 > 4 > 3 Hardest. I had a tough time transitioning in 3rd year.

Word of mouth but my colleague applied far and wide, and got interviews for non-advertised positions.

Good point. Someone with experience will have an edge over you. Be open to the having to locum or working in a less-desired practice until you get your ideal job. My cohort have all landed jobs but not all of us got our ideal jobs.

I work full time hours some weeks and few hours per day other weeks. Nowadays, you need a fellowship and experience to land a job, even in the community. If you have to take a full time job, there is always opportunity to go down in time once you're established. Investments, hobbies, exercise, cooking, anything you want! Residency was tough, but not tougher than other specialties. It's also temporary. I have a lot of control of my life now as a staff. I don't think anyone should pick a specialty based on what they have been told about the residency experience.

I'm working part time myself, and doing other stuff on the side. Love it. You just have to wait for the job openings. Lakeridge just sent out an ad for a part time position a few months ago. Also no harm in approaching groups yourself.

I got printed stacks of personal letters. No way I'm counting that. One of my colleagues, however, somehow did word counts, and brought one overcount to our program director. He basically said if you're a little over, it's okay. I still recommend that you adhere to the limit. If you got this far in life, you can wordsmith your way out of 50 words.

Judging from recent job ads, breast, neuro, and IR have been in demand recently. But my advice is to do what interests you. We are under ever-increasing scrutiny and pressure to deliver. You need to be good. Jobs are bound to open up in your specialty, especially in Toronto and Vancouver. Be the best candidate on the market when that happens (and also be a nice person) and good things will happen. You get there by working in something you enjoy, not to mention you're in it for 20+ years! I met a seasoned radiologist who chose a specialty for a specific job, which he got. The problem is he

That's correct. A routine CT abdo/pelvis with IV bills $195.

I backed up with FM and went to a few interviews. In the end, I decided I'd rather go unmatched than do FM, and didn't rank any FM programs. I generally don't like the idea of backing up. You spread yourself thinner than your competition.

It's a fine balance. Check yourself every now and then. The fact that you're questioning this about yourself means you probably have enough self-awareness to display an optimal degree of keenness.

With postgraduate training from a Commonwealth country, like Ireland, you are eligible to challenge the Canadian royal college exams. This means if you go unmatched in Canada, you can always stay do residency in Ireland, hopefully in your desired specialty, and challenge the Canadian exam as a specialist. I don't know if Israeli undergraduate training allows you the same eligibility.

If they cared to spend time to teach you something or socialize with you, those are good. Also good if your preceptor trashes another med student to you behind their back, which means they at least like you more than that other one.

No need for professional photos. Our committee just needs them to remember who you are. We put print out the pictures of all the interviewees and put them on the whiteboard, discuss, and rearrange, to come up with the rank order list. We do a lot of "put that one in front of that one!" A nice head shot with professional attire and nice smile in a plain background is fine. Make sure it's in colour and not black and white. One candidate sent us black and white and we were all wtf?

I bought a house at the beginning of residency with my LOC for the 20% downpayment. Outside GTA. Price still doubled by fellowship. Go for it.